Box-covering machine.



P- P. RACZYNSKI.

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Me. 8, I914.

1,i52,970. Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

"3 SHEEISSHEET I.

P. P. RACZYNSKI.

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8. 1914.

1,152,970. Patent-ed'Sept. 7, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PETER P. RACZINSKI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOX-COVERING MACHINE.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. a, rare.

Application filed December 8, 1914;. Serial No. 876,109.

-To aZZ whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER P. RAozYNsnr, a c1t1zen of the UnitedStates,-and a resr dent of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, andState of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inBox-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in box-covering machines, thepresent invention being an improvement onthe box-covering machine of theStokes & Smith Company, manufacture, as exemplified in Letters Patent toPhilip S. Smith, No. 691,329,

dated January 14c, 1902, and No. 778,805, dated December 27, 190d. I

The object of invention is to provide certain improvements in machinesof the class mentioned in order to-render the same capable of moreeflicient service.

A further object is the production of improvements of the charactermentioned,

which will be of simple construction and Figure 1 is a broken verticalsection of a' portion of a machine embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is aside velevation of the 'fold- 1ng mechanism embodying the invention,

Figs. 3, land 5 arefperspective views showing the various stages in thefolding operation of the box-covering, and Fig. ,6 is a top plan view,of the construction shown in" Fig. 2.

The-machine to which my improvements are applied, comprises generally,vertically movable box-supporting mechanism, said mechanism, in the,operation'of the machine being adapted to carry the box downwardly so asto permit of the application of the covering ,mater'ial thereto. Thisbox-supporting mechanism comprises an upper form block 1, and a middleform blockQ which are supported at the lower ends of plungers 3 and 5':respectively, so as to per mit of slight relative vertical movement ofsaid blocks. Below the middle form block 2 is the lower form'block 5which is 'car ried at the upper end of a vertically movable plunger 6. i

In the operation of the machine, the box A which it is desired to cover,is first arranged upon the form blocks 1 and 2, the latter of course,being of a size to snugly receive the box. It is desired to soapply thecovering-sheet B to the box A, that the end portions G and the sideportions D of said covering sheet will be so folded against thecorresponding walls ofthe box, that outwardly projecting flapsE will beformed at the vertical edges of the end walls of the box, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1. It is also desired to so apply said covering sheet,that said flaps E will be subsequently folded against the ends of thebeliever the portion G of i said covering sheet in the manner shown inFig; 5. After the flaps E have been folded to the position shown in Fig.5, the upper edge portion F of the covering sheet is tucked in andsecured in the manner, ;-shown in Fig. 5. In machmes of the manufactureabove mentioned, the flaps which are formed at the vertical edges of theends v of the box during the application of the covering are firstfolded to operative position, the central portion of the end of thecovering being subsequentlyfolded to position so that in the finishedarticle, the central portion of the end of the covering material will beoutermost. It has been found,

however, that this construction is not durable and in the foldingoperation considerable difficulty has been experienced in the inwardfolding of the side flaps, which in a great many cases, results in theproduction of a box having untidy ends, or in which the covering at theends is not symmetrical. The inward tuckin g of the portion F of thecovering of the box is not claimed as new,

' the construction for performing this function being used at thepresent time.

Fn accomplishing the folding of the boxcovering in the manner above setforth, brushes 7 are employedwhich are positioned for registration withthe respective ends of blocks 1 and 2. The backs 8 of the brushes .7 areclamped by screws 9 in supporting plates 10 which are slotted at theirrearward secure the same to the supporting rods 11 in their positions ofadjustment'upon the latter. The outer ends of plates 12 are slidablymounted upon upright posts A, set screws 15 relativeinward and outwardmovement of the latter, as will be readily understood. The brushes 7 arenarrower in width than the ends of the box so that when the latter,

carrying the covering B arranged centrally,

upon the under side thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, is moved downwardly bythe form blocks 1 and 2, between said brushes, the latter will engagewith the central portions of the ends C of the covering and fold thesame upwardly into engagement with the corresponding end walls of thebox.

Immediately after the engagement of the ends of the covering with thebrushes 7, the side portions D of said covering will be brought incontact with rollers 21 which are arranged at opposite sides of the formblocks 1 and 2 with their axes positioned slightly below the plane ofsaid brushes, said rollers 21 being carried by movably mounted stems 22which are carried at the inner ends of supporting bars 23 secured to andprojecting from the frame 17. Helical compression springs24 cooperatewith the stems 22 for yieldingly holding the rollers 21 at theirinnerterminals of movement. Upon the passage of the boX to position betweenthe rollers 21, the side portions D of the covering will engage withsaid rollers and be folded upwardly thereby into engagement with theside walls of the box, as shown in Fig. 4c. The relative arrangement ofthe brushes 7 and the rollers 21 which results in said brushes engagingwith the ends C of the covering just prior to engagement of the centralportions of said rollers with the side portions D of'the covering,causes the formation of'outwardly project-,

ing flaps E at the vertical edges of the end walls ofthe boX, as shownin Fig-4:.

Arranged below the brushes 7, in substan tially the same plane as therollers 21, are two pairs of spaced parallel plates 25, the outer endsof which are slotted for engagement with the supporting bars 11. Theengagement of said plates with said bars permits of lateral adjustmentof the former, set screws 26 being provided for securing said plates inadjusted positions. Said plates are so positioned, that the inner edgesthereof will engage in the corners G which are formed in the covering Bat the inner sides of fiapsE, in order to crease said cornersso as topermit of more ready inward folding of the flaps E which subsequentlyoccurs. Tn order to insure engagement of the inner edges of plates 25with the innermost extremities of corners G, the outer sides of saidplates, at the inner edges thereof, are beveled as at 27, as clearlyshown in Fig. 6. Also, the passage of the flaps E between the rollers 21and the outer sides of plates 25, serves to crease the lower edges ofsaid flaps although not to a sharp edge. The lateral adjustment 'whichis afforded the plates 25 permits of the same being brought closertogether or farther apart in order to adapt th same for use inconnection with boxes of various sizes which it may be desired to cover.

Arranged below the plates 25, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, are laterallymovable plates'28 adapted to effect the in-turning or inward folding ofthe flaps E. The plates 28 are mounted in pairs upon supporting members29 which are adjustably secured by set screws 30 to supporting heads 31provided at the inner ends of laterally slidable bars 32 mounted in theframe 17 of the machine. lleciprocation of the rods 32 is secured bymeans of sleeves 33 which are slid-ably mounted upon the outer ends ofbars 32, said sleeves being adapted for engagement with stop collars 3%which are adj ustably secured to sa d bars. The sleeves 33 arereciprocated through the medium of links 35 which are connected with theouter ends of rocker 21,.1118 36 carried by rock shafts 37 adapted, whenthe machine is in operation. to be intermittently oscillated or rocked.The mechanism which is here employed for effecting inward folding of theflaps E, is in use at the present time and therefore no claim is made tothe specific construction thereof, the novelty in so far as this elementis concerned, residing in the combination thereof with the other foldingdevices employed. It is of course understood, that the operation of thefolding members 28 will be so timed. that one of the flaps E at each endof the box, will be folded over the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.Arranged directly below the folding members 28 are brushes 38 which arecarried at the lower ends of supporting arms 39, the upper ends of saidsupporting arms being secured by screws 4.0 to the under sides ofsupporting plates 10. The brushes 38 serve simply as a means of pressingthe flaps E se urely against the ends of the box.

In operation, the covering sheet B is first applied centrally to theunderside of the box A which has previously been applied to the formblocks 1 and 2. Upon downward movement of the latter through actuationof the plungers 3 and r, the box together with said covering, will bepressed into engagement with the upper side of the lower block 5 whichwill be moved downwardly in unison with said box and form blocks,serving to securely hold the covering sheet in position against theunder side of the box. engagement of the ends C of the covering with thebrushes 7 and the sides I) of said covering with the rollers 21, saidends and sides will be rocked upwardly intoengagement with thecorresponding walls of the box, resulting in the formation of outwardlyprojecting flaps E at the vertical edges of the end walls. Jponcontinued downward movement the inner edges of members 25 will engage inthe corners G and serve to crease oraccurately define the same, and alsoserve to partially crease the lower edges of said flaps. After leavingthe members 25, said flaps E will be engaged by the laterally movingfolding members 28 which will serve to fold said flaps inwardly to theposition shown in Fig. 5, and upon farther downward movementof the box,thefbrushes 38 will engage with said folded flaps and press the samesecurely to operative position and at the same time crease the loweredges of said flaps to a fine edge. The final step in the foldingoperation which is that of inwardly tucking the edge i of the covering,

forms no part of the invention, this being the final step in the foldingoperation with machines of the class in question already in use. Uponreturn movement of the blocks 1 and 2, the box having the coveringcompletely applied thereto is automatically discharged from said blocksas the same reach their upper terminals f movement so as to make way forthe application of another box to be covered. The removing mechanismalso is not a part of the present invention and so has not been shown inthe drawings.

The construction set forth is adjustable to any size of a box within alimited range, the arrangement being such that these adjustments may beeffected with ease and expedition.

W'hile lihave illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from. the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but

nism for folding and applying the covering I material to the lateralwalls of the box;

means for causing a relative movement be-' tween the box supportingmeans and the covering mechanism, said. covering mechanism comprisingside engag1ng means and Upon end-engaging means for folding the side andend walls of the box, the end-engaging means cooperating with each endof the box comprising a member of less width than the end wall of thebox adapted to fold the central portion of the end of the coveringmaterial into engagement with. the corresponding end wall of the boxand, upon folding of the side portions of said covering material intoengagement with the side walls of the box, to form outwardly projectingflaps at the vertical edges of the corresponding end wall of the box;means for subsequently creasing the corners of said covering material atthe inner sides of said flaps; and means for subsequently folding saidflaps against said end wall, substantially as described.

2. In a box-covering machine, means for supporting'the box to becovered; mechanism for folding and applying the covering material to thelateral walls of the box;

means for causing a relative movement between the box supporting meansand the tral portion of the end of the covering materi al intoengagement with the corresponding end wall of the box and, upon foldingof the side portions of said covering material into engagement with theside walls of the box, to form outwardly projecting flaps at thevertical edges of the corresponding end wall'ofthe box; two spacedcreasing members adapted to subsequently crease the corners of saidcovering material'at the inner sidesof said flaps; and means forsubsequently folding said iiaps against said end wall, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a box-coveringmachine, means for supporting the box to be covered;mechanism for folding and applying the covering inaterial'to the lateralwalls of the box; means for causinga relative movement l:=e

tween the box supporting means and the covermg mechanism, said coveringmechanism comprising side-engaging means and end-engaging means forfolding the s de and end portions respectively of the covering materialinto engagement with the side anl end walls of the box, the end-engagingmeans cooperatingwith each end the box comprising a member of less widththan the end wall of the boxadaptedto fold the cen tral portion of theend of the covering material mto engagement with the correspondsing endwall of the box and, upon folding of the side portions of said coveringmaterial into engagement with the side walls of the box, to formoutwardly projecting flaps at 5 the vertical edges of the correspondingend wall of the box; two spaced parallel plates having edges adapted tosubsequently engage in and crease the corners of said covering materialat the inner sides of said flaps, the outer sides of said platesadjacent said edges being beveled; and means for subsequently foldingsaid flaps against said end wall, substantially as described.

4:. in a box covering machine, means for supporting the box to becovered; mechaiismfor folding applying the covering iaterial to the laral walls of the box to ill the same thereto; means for verticallyreciprocating said box supporting means. said covering mechanismcomprising sideengaging means endengaging means for folding the side andend portions respectively of the covering material upwardly intoengagement with the side and end walls f tlebox, the cnd-engaging means005perating with each end of the box comprisa brush of width than theend wall of thcbox adapted to fold and press the cen tral portions ofthe end of the covering matcrial into engagement with the correspondingend wall of the box, and, upon folding of the side portions of saidcovering material into engagement with the side walls of the box, toform outwardly projecting flaps 05 at the vertical edges of thecorresponding end wall of the box; vertically extending contact surfacesarranged below said brush adapted subsequently to engage in and creasethe corners of said covering material 49 at the inner sides of saidflaps; laterally movable blades arranged below said creas surfaces forsubsequently folding said s to position against the end walls of the gand means arranged below said blades .ubsequently pr ssing said flapstoward ed position, substantially as described.

In a.boxcovering machine, means for porting the box to be covered; meansfor ding and applying the covering material to the lateral ,walls of thebox; means for causing a relative movement between the box supportingmeans the covering mechanism, said covering mechanism comprising .meansfor folding the side and end portions of the covering material intoengagement withthe side and end walls respectively of th box so as toform outwardly projecting at the vertical edges of said end Walls; s forsubsequently creasing thecorners said covering material at the innersides s id fla ,s; and means for subsequently folding said flaps againstsaid end walls, substantially as described.

6. in a box-covering machine, means for 5 supporting the box to becovered; means for folding and applying the covering material to thelateral walls of the box; means for causing a relative movement betweenthe box supporting means and the covering mechanism, said coveringmechanism comprising means for folding the side and end portions of thecovering material into engagement with the side and end wallsrespectively of the box so as to form outwardly projecting flaps at thevertical edges of said end walls, said side folding means being extendedbeyond the ends of the box; means cooperating with said extendedportions of said side folding means for subse- I quently creasing thecorners of said covering material at the inner sides of said flaps; andmeans for subsequently folding said flaps against said end walls,substantially as described.

7. In a box-covering machine, means for supporting the box to becovered; means for folding and applying the covering material to thelateral walls of the box; means for causing a relative movement betweenthe box supporting means and the covering mechanism, said coveringmechanism comprising means for folding the side and end portions of thecovering material into engagement with the side and end wallsrespectively of the box so as to form outwardly projecting flaps at thevertical edges of said end walls, said side folding means being extendedbeyond the ends of the box; means cooperating said extended portions ofsaid side folding means for subsequently partially creasing the loweredges of said flaps and creasing the corners of said covering materialat the inner sides of said flaps; and means for subsequently foldingsaid flaps against said end Walls, substantially as described.

8. In a box-covering machine, means for supporting the box to becovered; means for folding and applying the covering material to thelateral walls of the box; means for causing a relative movement betweenthe box supporting means and the covering mechanism, said coveringmechanism comprising means for folding theside and end portions of thecovering material into engagement with the side and end wallsrespectively of the box so as to form outwardly projecting flaps atthevertical edges of said end walls; means for subsequently partiallycreasing the lower edges of said flaps and creasing the corners of saidcovering material at the inner sides of said flaps, said last mentionedmeans comprising a pair of slightly separated contact surfaces providedfor engagement with each of said flaps; and means for subsequentlyfolding said flaps against said end walls, substantially as described.

9. In a box-covering machine, means for supporting the box to becovered; means for folding and applying the. covering material to thelateral walls of the box; means for mechanism, said coveringmechanismcomprising means for folding the side and end portions of the coveringmaterial into engagement with the side and end walls respectively of thebox so as to form outwardly projecting flaps at the vertical edges ofsaid end walls; means for subsequently partially creasing the loweredges of said flaps and creasing the corners of said covering materialat the'inner sides of said flaps, said last mentioned means comprising apair of slightl separated contact surfaces provided for engagement witheach of said flaps, said surfaces being in closest proximity adjacentthe box, the space between said surfaces being of increased width theremainder of their extent; and means for subsequently folding said flapsagainst said end Walls, substantially as described.

10. In a box-covering machine, means for supporting the box to becovered; means for folding and applying the covering material to thelateral walls of the box; means for causing a relative movement betweenthe box supporting means and the covering mechanism, said coveringmechanism comprising means for folding the side and end portions of thecovering material into engagement with the side and end wallsrespectively of the box soas to form outwardly projecting flaps at thevertical edges of said end walls; means for subsequently partiallycreasing the lower edges of said flaps and creasing the corners of saidcovering material at the inner sides of said flaps, said last mentionedmeans comprising a pair of slightly separated contact gurfaces providedfor engagement with each of said flaps, said surfaces being inclosestproximity adjacent the box, the contact surface at the inner sideof each flap receding slightly from the adjacent side of the flap assaid surface recedes from the box, so as to increase the width of thespace between said contacting surfaces the remainder of their extent;and means for subsequently folding said flaps against said end walls,substantially as described.

11. In a box-covering machine, means for supporting the box to becovered; means for folding and applying the covering material to thelateral walls of the box; means for causing a relative movement betweenthe box supporting means and the covering mechanism, saidcoveringmechanism comprising side-engaging means and end-engaging means forfolding the side and end portions respectively of the covering materialinto engagement with the side and end walls respectively of the box, theend-engaging means cooperating with each endof the box comprisingfolding means of less width than the end wall of the boxadapted to foldand press the central portion of the end of the covering material intoengagement with the corresponding end wallof the box and, upon foldingof the side portions of saidcovering material into engagement with theside walls of the box to form outwardly projecting flaps at the verticaledges of the corresponding end wallof the box; vertically extendingcreasing members arranged below said folding means adapted subsequentlyto engage in and crease the corners of said covering material at theinner sides of said flaps; means arranged below said creasing membersfor subsequently folding said flaps to position against the end walls ofthe box; press- I mg means arranged below said last men tioned foldingmeans for subsequently pressing said flaps toward folded positiongandvertically ad ustable means carrying the first mentioned foldlng means,creasing 'members and pressing means cooperating wlth each end of thebox, substantially as to the lateral walls of the box; means for causinga relative movement between the box supporting means and the coveringvmechanism, said covering mechanism comprising side-engaging means andendengaging means for folding the side and end portions respectively ofthe covering material into engagement with the side and end prisingside-engaging means and end-engaging means cooperating with each end ofthe box comprising folding means of less width than the end wall of thebox adapted to fold and press the central portion-of the end of thecovering material into engagement with the corresponding end wall ofthebox and, upon folding of the side portions of said covering materialinto engagement with the side walls of the box, to form eut- -wardlyprojecting flaps at the vertical edges of the corresponding end wall ofthe box; vertically extending creasing members arranged below saidfolding means adapted subsequently to engage in and crease the cornersof said covering material at the inner sides of said flaps; meansarranged below said creasing members for subsequently folding saidflapsto position against the end walls of the box; pressing means arrangedbelow said last mentioned folding means for subsequently pressing saidflaps toward folded position; a post arranged at each end of the box;and means mounted for vertical adjustment upon said post carrying thefirst mentioned folding means, creasing members, and pressing meanscoiiperating with each end of the box, substantially as described.

13. In a box-covering machine, means for prising side-engaging means andend-engaging means for folding the side and end portions respectively ofthe covering material into engagement with the side and end Wallsrespectively of the box, the end-engaging means cooperating with eachend of the box I comprising folding means of less width than the endWall of the box adapted to fold and press the central portion of the endof the covering material into engagement with the corresponding end wallof the box and, upon folding of the side portions of said coveringmaterial into engagement with the side walls of the box, to formoutwardly projecting flaps at the vertical edges of the correspondingend Wall of the box; vertically extending creasing members arrangedbelow said folding means adapted subsequently to engage in and creasethe corners of said covering material at the inner sides of said flaps;means arranged below said creasing members for subsequently folding saidflaps to position against the end walls of the box; pressing meansarranged below said last mentioned folding means for subsequentlypressing said flaps toward folded position; a post arranged at each endof the box; and a plate mounted for vertical adjustment upon said postcarrying the first mentioned folding means, creasing members, and pressing means cooperating with each end of the box, substantially asdescribed.

14. In a box-covering machine means for supporting the box to becovered; means for folding and applying the covering material to thelateral Walls of the box; means for causing a relative movement betweenthe Copies of this patent may be obtained for box supporting means andthe covering mechanism, said covering mechanism comprising side-engagingmeans and end-engaging means for folding the side and end portionsrespectively of the covering material into engagement with the side andend walls respectively of the box, the end-engaging means cooperatingwith each end of the box comprising folding means of less width than theend wall of the box adapted to fold and press the central portion of theend of the covering material into engage ment with the corresponding endwall of the box and, upon folding of the side portions of said coveringmaterial into engage ment with the side walls of the box, to formoutwardly projecting flaps at the vertical edges of the correspondingend wall of the box; vertically extending creasing members arrangedbelow said folding means adapted subsequently to engage in and creasethe corners of said covering material at the inner sides of said flaps;means arranged below said creasing members for subsequently folding saidflaps to position against the end walls of the box; pressing meansarranged below said last mentioned folding means for subsequentlypressing said flaps toward folding position; a horizontally adjustablepost arranged at each end of the box; and means mounted for verticaladjustment upon said post carrying the first mentioned folding means,creasing members, and pressing means cooperating with each end of thebox, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER P. RACZYNSKI. Witnesses:

ARTHUR A. OLsoN, JOSHUA B. H. Por'rs.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,I). C.

